Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli and Atlanta Braves third baseman Chris Johnson were both mentioned in trade rumors prior to the non-waiver deadline, but neither was moved. It only took a week for that to change.
On Friday the Red Sox sent Napoli and cash to the Texas Rangers on Friday and Boston will receive a player to be named later or cash in the trade, according to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com. Both clubs confirmed the deal on Twitter.
#RedSox trade 1B Mike Napoli and cash considerations to Texas Rangers in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) August 8, 2015
The Rangers are excited to welcome @MikeNapoli25 back to Arlington! pic.twitter.com/CytqtCl56y
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) August 8, 2015
Napoli, 33, was batting just .207/.307/.386 with 37 runs scored, 13 home runs and 40 RBIs in 98 games with the Red Sox this season and hasn't entirely been the player Boston was expecting him to be after he signed a two-year, $32 million deal before the 2014 season.
He'll return to the Rangers where had the best season of his career in 2011. That year he batted .320/.414/.631 with 72 runs scored, 30 home runs and 75 RBIs in 113 games. He also earned his first All-Star Game bid the following season with Texas.
The Rangers will pay $1.5 million of Napoli's 2015 salary and the Red Sox will be responsible for the rest, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
In other big trade news, the Atlanta Braves acquired outfielders Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for third baseman Chris Johnson, according to Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports and Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Both teams also announced the move on Twitter.
We've acquired INF Chris Johnson from ATL for Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn & cash. More soon: https://t.co/jwr0rBKYM5 pic.twitter.com/alkilMKjVv
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) August 7, 2015
Braves acquire OF Nick Swisher (@NickSwisher), OF Michael Bourn and cash considerations from Indians in exchange for IF Chris Johnson
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 7, 2015
Jeff Passon of Yahoo! Sports noted the Indians sent more than $10 million to the Braves to offset the cash in the deal. Passan mentioned "Cleveland wants to free up money for 2016 so it can fortify an everyday lineup needing help" while "Atlanta wants to clear its books for a 2017 push."
The Braves had been looking to move Johnson due to his underachieving 2015 campaign and the fact he's owed $16.5 million total in 2016 and 2017. Similarly, Swisher and Bourn haven't fulfilled expectations since signing big contracts prior to the 2013 season.
Swisher has played in only 30 games this season after missing 65 games in 2014 to undergo surgeries on both of his knees. He batted just .228/.311/.377 with 113 runs scored, 32 home runs and 113 RBIs in 272 games with Cleveland. Bourn also missed a lot of games (56) last season due to a hamstring injury. He slashed just .257/.315/.345 with 161 runs scored, 9 home runs, 97 RBIs and 46 stolen bases in 331 game with the Indians.
Teams can still make waiver trades up until August 31, so keep an eye out over the next three weeks.
